Bath time is the best time to relax your baby and prepare him for bed, but it can also be the ideal time to strengthen your bond by playing with him and stimulating his senses of smell and touch at the same time.
How often should you bathe your newborn?
Pediatricians and midwives recommend bathing the newborn 2-3 times a week and gradually increasing the frequency. In fact, there is no obligation to take a bath every day, although in summer it can be a pleasant time to refresh and relax the little one. What matters is trying to “interpret” the newborn’s reactions: if the immersion is unwelcome, you should try to understand the reasons for the discomfort, which can range from the time of day when the baby is bathed to the temperature of the water. If you really don’t like it, you can reduce the frequency – as a rule no less than times a week – and the duration of the immersion (a few minutes are enough). Start by using a sponge bath until the baby’s umbilical cord stump dries and comes loose and the wound heals.
When is it best to bathe newborns?
There is no right time to take a bath, the important thing is to choose a moment of the day in which you have enough time available: bathing represents a relaxing break for both the little one and the parents, a special moment during the which to cuddle each other.
How do you bathe a newborn?
The baby should always be gradually immersed in the water, holding it firmly and resting its back and head on your forearm. Start by cleansing your head and face with a soft sponge, then move on to your body. Then, always keeping the little one still, you turn him with the help of your forearm to wash his back and bottom. In all operations it is essential to pay attention not to hit the child’s head.
Where to bathe the newborn and how to wash the newborn in the tub?
The ideal is to bathe the little one in the special plastic tub which has the right dimensions, offers maximum safety and is more comfortable both for the baby and for the parents who can wash and disinfect it easily. In any case, be careful never to place the tray on unstable surfaces from which it could accidentally fall: better a spacious shelf that is not too low, to prevent the parent from getting back pain. You can also wash the baby in the bathtub, but this requires more effort and greater attention: in fact, you must always wash the tub carefully before bathing and proceed being very careful because there is the risk of the baby slipping. It is also important to carefully prepare the environment where you take a bath, so that you have everything you need at hand without having to leave, not even for a moment. In fact, the baby should never be left alone because, in addition to the risk of drowning which can exist even in little water, he could inhale splashed water or, by slipping, get scared or hurt himself.
How many degrees should the water be for a newborn?
The ideal one is around 37° C, a little cooler in summer, a little warmer in winter. In order not to exaggerate in one direction or another, it is important to equip yourself with a special thermometer at least at the beginning. Only when you become safer, you can measure the temperature of the water by dipping your elbow in. Be careful, if you keep the tub in the bathtub, never let the water run out of the tap to avoid burns or cold shocks.
The temperature of the room is just as important as that of the water and should never fall below 22° C, so that the baby does not get cold when he is naked. If necessary, you can heat the environment with a space heater before bathing, but avoid leaving it on during the dive because the air could become too dry.
How long should a newborn's bath last?
Five minutes may be enough; if the little one likes it, you can even go up to ten, but no more, otherwise you risk the newborn’s fragile skin becoming excessively impoverished. In any case, there is no need to rush: the bath is not just used to wash the baby, but is a privileged moment of contact with the parents which helps to strengthen their relationship and stimulates the sensory development of the little one.
What to use to bathe newborns?
Water alone is not enough for baby’s bath because it is only able to eliminate approximately 65% of traces of oil and dirt, but it does not dissolve the fat-soluble impurities that hide under diapers and clothing.
If not eliminated, these residues can destroy your baby’s fragile skin barrier and water alone can even reduce the hydration level of skin cells, dry out the skin and cause skin irritation or redness in children. .
Baby’s skin is, in fact, particularly fragile: the elastin and collagen fibers that provide support are poorly developed and the hydrolipidic film, the lipid layer that insulates the skin, protects it from external aggressions and slows evaporation, is completely missing. of water from the inside avoiding dehydration. Furthermore, when the baby is born at term his skin is very dry and could begin to “peel”; bathing thus risks becoming critical for the skin, especially if you make a mistake in choosing the detergent: aggressive, very foaming formulations can, in fact, accentuate dryness and cause irritation. Therefore, absolutely no to products used for adult hygiene: even if they are delicate, they do not have a formulation designed to meet the needs of the delicate skin of babies.
In addition to using specific detergents for babies – fluids, gels, mousses or oils – it is best to never exaggerate with the quantity. A few drops are enough to add to the tub or alternatively to the sponge used to wash the little one.
*The skin barrier is the upper layer of the skin: it is a vital barrier that prevents the entry of external irritants, bacteria and allergens, thus protecting the body from diseases. The skin barrier of children differs from that of adults because it is still developing, and for this reason requires special care.
If not eliminated, these residues can destroy your baby’s fragile skin barrier and water alone can even reduce the hydration level of skin cells, dry out the skin and cause skin irritation or redness in children. .
Baby’s skin is, in fact, particularly fragile: the elastin and collagen fibers that provide support are poorly developed and the hydrolipidic film, the lipid layer that insulates the skin, protects it from external aggressions and slows evaporation, is completely missing. of water from the inside avoiding dehydration. Furthermore, when the baby is born at term his skin is very dry and could begin to “peel”; bathing thus risks becoming critical for the skin, especially if you make a mistake in choosing the detergent: aggressive, very foaming formulations can, in fact, accentuate dryness and cause irritation. Therefore, absolutely no to products used for adult hygiene: even if they are delicate, they do not have a formulation designed to meet the needs of the delicate skin of babies.
In addition to using specific detergents for babies – fluids, gels, mousses or oils – it is best to never exaggerate with the quantity. A few drops are enough to add to the tub or alternatively to the sponge used to wash the little one.
*The skin barrier is the upper layer of the skin: it is a vital barrier that prevents the entry of external irritants, bacteria and allergens, thus protecting the body from diseases. The skin barrier of children differs from that of adults because it is still developing, and for this reason requires special care.
How to dry your newborn after bathing?
After the bath is finished, it is important to dry the newborn well with a soft towel, dabbing the skin, without rubbing it because, being delicate, it could become irritated and red. Pay particular attention to the folds of the skin which should not be left damp to avoid macerations, which they can cause irritation, redness and itching, also becoming a fertile ground for the proliferation of germs.To dry the ear you can use a handkerchief to pass only in the pavilion and never inside the ear canal.
What to apply to the skin after bathing?
The newborn’s skin does not need particular hydration: the cream should therefore be applied only if the skin is dry and always as indicated by the paediatrician. Instead, a specific oil
can be used to give the little one the pleasure of a delicate massage, a privileged moment of contact and relationship between the mother and the baby, before putting the clean diaper back on him and putting him back on. Babycoccole detergents, thanks to pure and natural active ingredients of plant origin, respect the sensitive skin barrier of babies while maintaining their PH and they are formulated to be delicate and avoid irritation.
